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The 49ers have addressed an area of need by signing former Falcons tight end Justin Peelle to a one-year contract. To make room for Peelle on the roster, the Niners waived rookie safety Colin Jones, a sixth-round pick who could be added to the practice squad if he clears waivers.

San Francisco opened the season with just two tight ends on the 53-man roster — Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker — and has been looking to find a suitable No. 3 at the position since Nate Byham tore his ACL early in training camp.

Peelle (6-4, 251), a nine-year veteran, was a fourth-round pick of the Chargers in the 2002 draft. He has 122 career receptions for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns. He had career-highs of 29 catches for 228 yards in 2007 with the Dolphins.

Peelle spent the past three years in Atlanta and had 10 receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown last season. He was released by the Falcons on Aug. 18.

Peelle, a Fresno native, was a semifinalist for the Mackey Award during his career at Oregon.